Para Sport Collective: Third cohort announced

A total of 20 elite Para athletes, Paralympians, and coaches have been selected for the third cohort of the Para Sport Collective, an initiative created by Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) and supported by ACC.

Running from November 2026 to October 2027, the ten-month programme features representatives from nine Para sports. Participants will engage in three intensive, in-person camps in Auckland alongside bi-monthly virtual sessions designed to bridge the gap between pre-high performance and high-performance Para sport.

Following extensive sector consultation, the Para Sport Collective was launched in 2023 to ensure that emerging and established Para athletes and coaches gain the connections, confidence, and expert knowledge needed to thrive.

The initiative has already proven to be a vital stepping stone. Previous cohorts, which have featured nearly 80 participants, included Paris 2024 Paralympian #233 Louise Duncan PLY (Para equestrian) and coaches Marianne Loh (Para badminton) and John Tuki (Para table tennis), both of whom successfully guided Paralympians in Paris 2024. 

Other notable alumni include Siobhan Terry, who claimed four medals at the 2025 UCI Para cycling Track World Championships, and Finn Murphy, a 2026 World Cup silver medallist in Para canoeing.

The road to LA28

This third cohort marks a strategic evolution for the Collective, intentionally moving toward a smaller, highly targeted group. With the Paris 2024 cycle concluded, PNZ is firmly focused on building long-term talent pipelines for the LA28, Alpes 2030, and Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games. The smaller group size allows for a more personalised, bespoke learning environment.

The comprehensive programme takes participants on a developmental journey from foundational learning to high-pressure competition readiness, leadership, and transition planning.

Woven throughout the camps are sessions delivered by seasoned Paralympians and Paralympic coaches offering real-world insights. Key topics include performance nutrition, injury minimisation, media training, sponsorship, performance psychology, and navigating critical Para athlete-coach conversations. Crucially, every session links back to the participants' Individual Performance Plans, ensuring actionable, lasting growth.

National Sport Organisations (NSOs) nominate participants for the Collective, reflecting a sector-wide demand for advanced Para sport knowledge. Demonstrating this collaborative approach, Jess MacAskill, Para Sport Lead from Table Tennis New Zealand, will also attend the third cohort in an advisory observer role.

“The Para Sport Collective continues to provide a great platform for individual and sector wide connection, with an opportunity for our next cohort to not only strengthen their own knowledge as they continue their preparation along the Para sport pathway, but also to learn from industry experts, and Paralympians that have come before them, about the key training and performance components needed to succeed on the world stage” said PNZ CEO Greg Warnecke.

“Without the continued support from ACC for the Para Sport Collective, this opportunity would not exist for the next generation of Paralympians, coaches, and NSO leaders, as well as some that have already tasted success but are now on a new Para sport path. Congratulations to all of the participants selected for this new cohort.”

“Congratulations to everyone selected for the third Para Sport Collective cohort,” says Jones. “Through our partnership with Paralympics New Zealand, ACC is proud to support a programme that is creating opportunities for talented Para athletes, coaches and sporting leaders to develop their skills, build their networks and prepare for future success.

“The Para Sport Collective has become an important pathway for emerging and established Para sport talent, helping participants learn from experienced Paralympians, coaches and industry experts, while strengthening connections across the Para sport community.

“This cohort represents an exciting group of individuals with the potential to make a significant contribution to Para sport in New Zealand, and we look forward to following their journeys and celebrating their achievements in the years ahead.”

Paralympians and Para athletes:

The coaches:

NSO Observer: